A new exhibition at Carrick Hill will take South Australians back to the days when John Martin’s was one of Adelaide’s most recognisable meeting places.
Meet me at Johnnies will run from August 6 to October 31, celebrating the history of the beloved department store and the family that helped shape it across four generations.
The exhibition will be presented inside Carrick Hill, the former home of Sir Edward “Bill” Hayward and Ursula Hayward, whose family held senior leadership positions at John Martin’s throughout much of the twentieth century.
For generations of South Australians, John Martin’s was far more than somewhere to shop. Affectionately known as “Johnnies”, the store became a city landmark where people met friends, opened their first charge accounts, attended fashion parades and completed their Christmas shopping.
It also played a major role in establishing some of Adelaide’s most enduring traditions.
The exhibition will place a particular focus on Sir Edward “Bill” Hayward’s introduction of the Christmas Pageant in 1933. The event was initially created to lift community spirits during the Great Depression and has since grown into one of South Australia’s most recognisable annual celebrations.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Arts Kyam Maher said the exhibition would recognise the store’s lasting place in Adelaide life.
“Whether it was meeting friends in the city, visiting Father Christmas, watching the Christmas Pageant or simply enjoying a day in town, ‘Johnnies’ became part of the rhythm of Adelaide life,” Mr Maher said.
“This exhibition celebrates the vision, innovation and community spirit that made John Martin’s one of our state’s most treasured institutions.”
Through historic objects, stories and memorabilia, visitors will be able to explore how the Hayward family guided the business through decades of expansion, retail innovation and changing shopping habits.
Carrick Hill director Heather Croll AM said John Martin’s remained closely connected to the memories of many South Australians.
“This exhibition celebrates not only an iconic department store, but the people, traditions and entrepreneurial spirit that helped shape Adelaide’s identity throughout the twentieth century,” she said.
The exhibition has been developed with assistance from the South Australian Tourism Commission, which has provided items from the Christmas Pageant Collection, alongside the State Library of South Australia and several private lenders.
Meet me at Johnnies will be held at Carrick Hill from Thursday, August 6 until Saturday, October 31.
For more info head to https://www.carrickhill.sa.gov.au/events/jonnies
